6th MAP Conference Embraces the Challenge to Cash

The 6th International Mint and Print (MAP) Conference took place in Dubai. Just under 200 delegates from around 90 institutions and 40 countries took part in the event, organised by Mazen Hamden, with approximately 25% attending for the first time.

Larry Felix, Conference Chairman, and former Director of the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), welcomed delegates to the event, his introductory speech covering recent trends in the industry, from less use of cash during COVID to currently an increase in cash usage with growing interest rates, as well as the potential threat from a possible new era of CBDCs.

The three-day event compromised 10 sessions covering design, origination materials and substrates, printing, security features, currency processing, minting and precious metals, CBDs, and contingency planning, and concluded with a panel discussion on challenges and opportunities.

Key aspects were efficiency and effectiveness, sustainability and environmental awareness, the role of currency, access to cash via ATMs and collaboration.

One of Crane Currency’s presentations focused on the value of perception analysis, in this case using the method to decide the best version of a new security feature. Giesecke+Devrient presented its Green Banknote, while IQ Structures, Kurz and Crane reinforced the high security benefits of their optically variable security features.

Coin presentations were focused on minting, precious metals and sustainability given that counterfeiting is not a major issue for circulating coins.

Central bank presentations were made by Kyrgyzstan, the US Federal Reserve Jordan, Italy, Thailand, Ghana, Lebanon, and Morocco, as well as by the US Secret Service.

China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPM) gave two presentations on banknotes and coins respectively, noting its capability as the world’s largest producer to design and/or supply these to other countries, especially those without their own facilities.

The Farewell Dinner was co-hosted with CBPM, during which Mazen Hamden presented MAP’s newly-created award of ‘Cooperation with Other Parties by a Central Bank in the Production of New Banknote or Series’ to the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan.

Mazen Hamden presenting the Cooperation award to Dana Saifullina of the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan.